AIBU to try to lose 7 stone in 14 months?

[nitrox]

Hello everyone,

AIBU in thinking I can lose 7 stones in 14 month (1/2 stone a month) by eating healthily, and exercising a bit more?

I'm female, 5ft 7", 18st 13.5lbs (prety much 19st), size 22.

I miss all the sports I used to do, my knee is really bad and won't heal after I damaged it cycling, and I won't go to Alton towers anymore as I'm too embarrased after the last time when I nearly didn't get the bars down on my tummy.

I've tried all sorts of diets, even had a gastric band a few years ago.. it worked but went wrong and slipped and I've piled the weight back on, silly me .

Is anyone else in the same boat? Would love to hear some inspirational stories or to at least feel like I'm not the biggest freak in the world ... I can't even seem to find a winter coat I like that isn't knee length or a ski style jacket.

It's so sad really, I'm 30 now and spent my 20's dieting, I don't want to do the same in my 30's. I don't have children yet, so I need to do this now!

I love sports, extreme sports in particular like snowboarding and scuba diving and I'm pretty depressed as I can't do them very easily now and don't want to book any holidays because of my weight.

Anyhow, I'm rambling..

Thanks for reading

[MarysDressSways]

Oo well done beelights! Are you finding it easy to maintain?


I posted this on another thread, but I'm very like you Nitrox! Same height, was a stone heavier, but now I've lost 3 stone in 3 months (aware this will slow down).

I would do half hearted diets but never stick to them. I went to the doctors a couple of months ago about my bad back and he gave me a right lecture as I'd put on 3 stone since I'd seen him last (2 years previously). I could tell he was really annoyed and probably a bit disgusted. That motivated me to go on a proper diet.

I used the app nutracheck (like myfitness pal but I found it easier to use) to track my calories and I've lost 3 stone so far. I've still got another 4 to go before hitting the "healthy" BMI range (I know!!), but now I've started losing weight I feel I can do it.. (will definitely stop/eat to maintain when I reach my target though!)

I think the motivation is the key, and the doctor telling me about diabetes and my knees giving out and that was causing my bad back etc (to scare me), worked!

The things I've found most useful -

At the beginning I weighed everything to add to the app, and this really helped my portion control.

I found for me that rice cakes are a saviour, either salt & vinegar (or plain etc) for when you want a savoury snack, or the caramel or chocolate ones for when you fancy a biscuit etc.

Laughing cow light or extra light is a great alternative to proper cheese and v low calorie. I have it for lunch with ryvita and salad etc.

I'm not eating pasta, potatoes, bread or rice at the moment, I think this has really helped. Instead I'm eating pureed cauliflower instead of mashed potato, or beans or lentils or quinoa as a "low carb" alternative.

I'm just eating LOTS of veg and quorn and pulses etc really... I'm vegetarian, but even if you're not, quorn is a great lower calorie alternative to meat.

My main thing is portion control, and to not eat "treat" foods as the norm (ie pizza/ice cream etc). These are for special occasions (when the diet is over!). It is working for me so far (fingers crossed), but everyone is different.

[ppeatfruit]

The thing is MarysDress You never have to stop dieting if you're on Paul mckenna because it's not a diet it's a way of eating so you can maintain it by eating healthily and having the odd treat and or overeating on one day but always going back to it the next day or week it's the ONLY Way of Eating that you can do that on. Because you re educate your body (too many of us throw the food down out throats and don't REALLY taste or enjoy it )

[xCupidStuntx]

Hey nit!
It would be very optimistic to start any plan that morning with no preparation mentally or otherwise, so I definitely wouldn't stress yourself about that!

Choosing a plan or a new way of life, reminds me so much of having a baby. Everybody gives so much well meaning advice and shares their personal experiences that it can often leave you more muddled than you were begin with. There's so much excellent advice on this thread, take some time to digest it all.

I was feeling the worst I ever had when this thread started and one particular post by bssh saying midweek she does her fasts and keeps her non fast days lowish too so that she can indulge a bit over the weekend. I know it sounds fickle and wouldn't be for everyone but that's what made my mind up. I watched the documentary and I want all the benefits besides weight loss too.
I was and still am a bit worried about slow losses putting me off but my only other option is to do nothing, because frankly I just don't believe in rapid weight loss schemes anymore. They've never worked long term for me or anyone I know, just made me feel like an even bigger failure.

There was someone up the thread who lost almost a stone a month from just calorie counting, no exercise! There's no cap on how much you lose, that's what I have to tell myself. Nobody is stopping me do some exercise to increase losses or to be particularly mindful of what I eat on non fast days. It doesn't have to be one way or no way, it can be loads of different ways.
I was heading off to the playground with DD this morning and caught a glimpse of myself before we left and just wanted to go back to bed, it's like that meme "I've been dieting all day, why aren't I skinny yet!" that's how I felt, but then I remembered I'm doing something about it now. I'm not going to see changes straight away and just have to deal with that and use it as incentive to keep going and not give up!!!

[ppeatfruit]

That's a brilliant attitude Cupid also to take your own advice!!! Surely fairly slow losses have got to be better because your skin can catch up IFYSWIM! And the acupressure exercises are good because you can do them in bed or wherever (not having to go to the gym or run in the cold unless you want to of course!)